Book Review: "Goodbye, Goddess" by Breanna Teintze

Disclaimer: Breanna is not only a close friend of mine, but also my reviewer/editor/beta reader (and I am her reviewer/editor/beta reader). I helped review and edit several (but not all) of the stories in this anthology. Is my review biased? I try not to review books of people I know, because I know I'll end up hurting their feelings. I tackle the book, not the writer, but when you're in direct communication with the writer...well, you decide for yourself.

"Goodbye, Goddess", published in 2011, is a collection of 7 short stories with a total word count of over 37,000 words, making an average of 5,000 words per story. The stories are set in the same secondary world (I still don't know what the name of the world is), which, like most Western Fantasy works, has a definite medieval European vibe. There is magic and polytheism, and there are dragons, things you would expect from a standard Fantasy title.

The anthology opens with "Lucky Day", a story about Rion the Erranter (equivalent to Gypsy) who, thanks to his compulsive gambling, lost his horse and he needs to win--or steal--it back. He gets himself into deeper trouble when he crosses paths with a jinn-wizard. Rion gets nagged a lot, and like most new fathers, doesn't know what he's doing half the time. However, he knows his own nature as a thief and gambler, and uses that very nature to save himself & his family.

"Patron Saint" is about loss and redemption. The main character is angry with the gods and the saints for taking away his fiance. He is angry with himself for serving a corrupt king. In terms of action, nothing much happens until the ending scene, but this story is more of an emotional journey rather than a physical one.

"Moon and Bone" is among the strongest pieces in this collection not just because there's plenty of action and magic. Compared to other stories, this is fast-paced, true. It's a cozy mystery, a whodunit. However, it's the narrative voice that grabs me from the start. Corcoran the wizard is irreverent and snappish, but his voice is so strong that even though the story is told in first-person perspective, you can just tell it's the wizard talking and not you as the reader trying to be in the character's shoes.

"Hunter's Daughter" tells the story of an innkeeper's daughter who sells supplies for dragon hunters. When the hunters end up dying, and the guide (whom she loves) is almost killed, she decides to take matters into her own hand.

"Goodbye, Goddess", easily the longest--and strongest--piece in this collection, tells of the story of a duelist-for-hire who has lost his faith and his will to live. This story explores more about social caste systems in Teintze's world, and her worldbuilding is clearer here compared to other stories.

I'll be honest. I didn't agree to adding "Fool's Errand" to the anthology. For one, it feels like a parody of "Hunter's Daughter". Another, since it's told from the perspective of the town's fool, the storytelling feels trivial, at odds with the more serious undertone of the rest of the book. However, having read and re-read the anthology several times, I can see the wisdom in Teintze's blatant disregard of my advice. This short piece shows her range as a writer, and it also gives a breather. There's nothing slapstick in this story, mind. Maybe she did not manage to execute funny as good as some other authors I know of (Sedaris, anyone?), but still. It doesn't make me like the story any better, but still.

Moving on.

"Finer Points" explores what happens when heroes retire. They become grumpy village-folk who roll their eyes at overconfident adventurers who don't know what's good for them. These heroes end up returning from their retirement to save the day. Unlike "Fool's Errand", where Teintz tries--and fails--to be funny, this story is inherently funny and it shines through. Definitely a solid piece that strengthens the anthology.

Is this anthology the best damn thing that happened since ice cream? Sadly, no. This book was published in 2011, with some of the stories having been written long before that. Teintze has grown exponentially as a writer. She is also brilliant at worldbuilding, but the nature of short stories doesn't allow for her to showcase her ability. The fantastical elements are subdued, and for some Fantasy lovers, this can be a turnoff.

However.

The characters in the stories aren't merely characters. They're people. Living, breathing real people. The women aren't stunning damsels-in-distress, but practical ones in practical garbs who can kill dragons just in time to tidy the house and cook dinner. The dialogs are organic and believable. If read aloud, the entire collection reads smoothly. The prose, though not exactly lyrical, is practical, no-nonsense. Have I mentioned the rich characterization? And the solid, complete story arcs?

The cover, though pretty, could be better. It doesn't quite grab one's attention. The formatting is clean but sparse. Could Teintze have benefited from professional designing & formatting? Perhaps.

Don't let the packaging fool you. As far as content goes, this book is amazing. It shows a promise of a quality author who cares about her craft. If you're looking for stories with strong female characters--I'm not talking about muscle-bound jarheads, but mothers who can easily carry a baby in one hand and a sword in another--then you should give this book a go. If you're looking for stories with brilliant characterization, organic dialogs and satisfying story arcs, then you should give this book a go.

If you're looking for fast-paced, action-packed, gory-filled stories, then this book is not for you. If you're looking for adventure stories, then maybe this book is not for you. I said earlier that this book has what you'd expect of a standard Western Fantasy title, but there's nothing standard about how the author approaches the subgenre.

Honestly speaking, even if I never knew Breanna Teintze as a person, I'll definitely look for more of her stories and/or books. She's that good.

You can buy the book at these locations:

Amazon
Smashwords
iTunes
Barnes & Noble